Surah Al-Isra' , 17...The Modern 'Israelites'

Recitation of whole surah by Shaykh Ibrahim al-Jibreen,

.....the modern Israelites  : 'the present-day Muslims'




THE QUR'AN FORETELLS that the Israelites would soon renege and deviate, incurring yet more divine displeasure and punishment. "It may be that your Lord will have mercy on you, but if ye [ the Israelites ] repeat (the crime) We shall repeat (the punishment), and We have appointed hell a dungeon for the disbelievers " (8). The Israelites were first ravaged by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC, when the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem was destroyed and they were taken into captivity. The econd time was in 70 AC at the hand of Titus, later to become Roman Emperor, who razed the Temple to the ground [ after which it was never rebuilt ] and scattered the Israelites throughout the world.

In recent times, however, it has been the turn of the Muslims to neglect their obligations towards the establishment of God's order in this world and as a result incur His displeasure. The great irony of the current situation is, however, that it is the Israelites, previously condemned for the same misdeeds, who have overwhelmed the  Muslims. Since Muslims, in possession of authentic and impeccable revelations, have regressed into bigotry and ethnocentricity, they have been humbled by the Israelites, a condemned and censored people, who have in contrast rallied around their religious laws and traditions to overcome the Muslims.

Shaykh Muhammad al- Ghazali
" A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "




Reflections and commentary :
1. Imam Dr Yusuf Ziya Kavakci, [ ayat 1- ayat 11 ]

2. Tuan Guru Dr Ismail Lutfi al-Patani 
[ ayat 4 - ayat 8 ]
    1/5       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icH5S3IVei8
      2/5           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj_uZACo5fU
        3/5              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE59mlYevuw
        4/5             http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqFsQRHzoHA
        5/5             http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0pDJauvP1c


ps:

[...listening to Tuan Guru Dr Ismail Lutfi al-Patani: an ulama' scintillating with such soft charm, full of knowledge and wisdom, from our neighbouring Patani....make my mind backtrack  some 100 to 110 years back at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. I could imaging my great-great-great-great grandfather, Sutan Amir Kaharuddin  Budiman aka Mandor Diman, am old Rao warrior based in Raub, Pahang, setting  out in his sampan paddling upstream along  the Pahang river, into the Nenggiri  river tributary and joining the mighty Kelantan river aiming towards southern Siam and Patani, to seek Quranic wisdom from the sages and ulama of that era. How else could one explain this on wanderlust when one is already confortable in Raub? 

Patani for centuries has been the centre of Islamic wisdom in this Nusantara. This search and thirst for knowledge probably lead him to settle along the tributary of the Kelantan river at Chetok, Pasir Mas, getting married to a fair maiden beauty [ orghe Pasir Mas comelcomel, putih sepo belako! ] there and giving rise to the Rao's of Kelantan. Like prophet Abraham, his offspring prosper and spread far and wide.

Celibacy is not part of Islam, unlike Christianity. Islam is about living life fully here and the hereafter. The perfect Muslim does not live yesterday or tomorrow, he is a' child of the present'. It is about mixing the profane and the sublime, in the right proportion and under the right direction. It is about having a foot 'here' and another there in the 'hereafter' fully recognizing that what one do 'here' has a full bearing on one's happiness for eternity ]
http://drnikisahak.blogspot.com/2009/02/pearls-gem-raos-from-kelantan.html

nik howk

Surah Al-Isra' [ The Night Journey ], 17..Prologue

Surah Al-Isra', recitation by Shaykh Yasser al-Dosari,

.....Israelites during prophet Moses' time....

THIS SURAH IS KNOWN by the two titles: the Israelites and al-Isra', the Night Journey. Its opening verse refers to Prophet Muhammad's remarkable night journey from Makkah to Jerusalem in 621 AC. The following verses then immediately turn back in history to relate some important episodes from the Israelites' first sojourn in Palestine. The Torah had firmly and conclusively established the religious and political identity of the Israelites. However, although they had initially emerged as a model community, promoting order, cohesion, and fairness, their behavior soon changed and began to resemble more that of the Pharaohs, their arch oppressors. In the end they created  chaos  and havoc.

The Qur'sn explains how administrative incompetence and moral corruption within the leadership of a community can be eradicated simply by removing the base and inept authority perpetrating them. Reform may also be achieve through an outside force, where foreigners intervene to take control, restore order, and punish those responsible for the situation:

And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Scripture: Ye verily will work corruption in the earth twice, and ye will become great tyrants. (4) So when the time for the first of the two came, We roused against you slaves of Ours of great might who ravaged (your) country, and it was a threat performed. (5) 

Once nations lose control over their own affairs, they become open to outside control and domination, forfeiting their rights to independence of thought and freedom of action. Morever, corruption and oppression are incompatible with a system based on divine revelation, and , for this reason, the punishment for its negligence is usually very severe as otherwise the community can easily fall prey to foreign control and suffer indignity and humiliation. Once the lessons are learnt and the community's true and original spirit is awakened, its sense of dignity and self esteem is restored. This was the experience of the Israelites, for God says: "Then we gave you once again your turn against them, and We aided you with wealth and children and made you more in soldiery "(6). The cycle of progress continues as victory merely ushers in a new phase of trials and appraisal procedures. "If ye do good, ye do good for your own souls, and if ye do evil, it is for them (in like manner). So, when the time for the second (of the judgments) came (We roused against you others of Our slaves) to ravage you, and to enter the Temple even as they entered it the first time, and to lay waste all that they conquered with an utter wasting " (7). 

Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali

[ 1917 - 1996 ]

[...this short opening reminded me of Umar Mukhtar of Libya in the 1920's, right after the total collapse of the Ottoman Empire, when the Europeans were dividing Muslim lands like mad dogs and hyenas tearing in an injured gazelle. With just faith and almost bare hands he and his small band of freedom fighters gave the Italians a hard time , before the outright slaughter and plunder.

My mind also goes back to Afghanistan in the heydays of the British Empire and in this recent century, their ability to even embarass the mighty Russians. Now we have once again the 'crusaders' under the banner of NATO  back in Afghanistan. Faith and not might , isyaallah , will finally prevail when lackeys and clowns like Hamid Karzai and associates will finally realize 'sleeping with the enemy' is not on. The Afghans faithfuls may take a hundred years to drive out the crusaders; ten years,fifty years,a hundred years of jihad;.. but faith will finally prevail over might, insyaallah....It has been this way from time immemorial]

nik howk




Reflection and commentary by Tuan Guru Dr Ismail Lutfi al-Patani,
Ayat, 1-3 :-
1/6          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Leh6sYxWbmk
2/6          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGrZMsb0VFc
3/6          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQW-24nHxig
4/6          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc-3ng-TE4M
5/6          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNh6E2QtJo4
6/6          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHKeIPgRJVI

Key To The Garden : "Hidup Sesudah Mati"..Prof Hamka

Prof Hamka, I would rate him as my first 'guru'. Liked his tafseer so much, I have gone through his 10 volume 'Tafsir Al-Azhar' almost three times over. Took me fifteen years mulling  and chewing over them. A compendium of hadiths, history from the Muslim's perspective, politics and above all, first class tafsir work.
The beauty of Hamka's is that he did not profess himself to be an expert 'mufassirin', therefore you tend to get other views as well, most time for each 'significant ayat'.

A much under-rated scholar in this 'Nusantara' I would guess. Those who should read and 'know him better' choose to be seen and heard reading katsir and Qatadah  or Tabai-Tabain, those who have not reach this level of scholarship, do not read at all.
That is our 'Nusantara' , if you want me to 'summarise' ourselves in a nutshell....masses of the ignorant 'un-read'.

Here Prof Hamka 'speaks' on 'Life After Death':-

Surah Al Nahl , 16....Epilogue

 Recitation Surah Al Nahl,[ ayat 90-105 ], Shaykh Muhammad Luhaidan,

...on repentance,man's free-will, and da'wah
[ tis is a free world..one can choose to go and break one's neck if one has the inclination or marry the same sex if one is crazy enough, or legislate upside down values for the masses..but remember this: one day one is accountable to HIM ]

As mentioned earlier, this surah is mainly dedicated to pointing out the numerous and wide-ranging bounties and blessings that God has granted to humans, foremost among these is the Qur'an itself, as a guide and a beacon. Several communities throughout human history, however, have chosen to ignore or not to acknowledge these favors, refusing to show any gratitude to God.

Allah coineth a similitude: a township that dwelt secure and well content, its provision coming to it in abundance from every side, but it disbelieved in Allah's favours, so Allah made it experience the garb of dearth and fear because of what they used to do. (112)

In cases where people have changed course after having been misled, and have come to recognize and reciprocate God's blessings with gratitude, God will always forgive them and take them back into the fold. It is comforting to know that His door is always open for those who repent and want a fresh start. "Then lo! thy Lord - for those who do evil in ignorance and afterward repent and amend - lo! (for them) thy Lord is afterward indeed Forgiving, Merciful "(119).

The surah then goes on to speak of Abraham, who was the elder of all God's prophets and a 'nation unto himself', a paragon of piety and steadfastness in the service of God and His message. Prophet Muhammad was intructed to follow in his footsteps. The surah then make a fleeting reference to the fact that the imposition of the Sabbath on the Israelites had been as a punishment for their internal wrangling, and internecine conflicts.  

The surah closes with a profound statement addressed to Prophet Muhammad emphasizing the fact that Islam is a faith built on understanding, reasoned discussion, intelligent argument and amicable persuasion. It is never to be spread by force or compulsion.

Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the better way. Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is best aware of those who go aright. (125)

Mastering this approach in da'wah, or propagation of Islam, requires not only a deep and earnest knowledge of the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet but also a good understanding of the intricacies of human nature.

Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1996 ]



Reflection and commentary by Imam Dr Kavakci,
part 9...

Surah Al Nahl , 16..Qur'an, Torah and Bible..

.. the Qur'an,the Torah and the Bible


The surah then turns on a slander perpetrated by the enemies of Islam against the integrity of the Prophet during the early stages of his mission. The Arabs used to say that Muhammad has been taught the Qur'an by Jewish and Christian elders, or someone well-versed in the knowledge of earlier scriptures. The implication was that these mysterious mentors were non-Arabs. However, they had not explain why none of them had come forward to claim credit for the alleged contribution. " And We know well that they say: Only a man teacheth him. The speech of him at whom they falsely hint is outlandish, and this is clear Arabic speech "[103)

The Qur'an immediately points out the absurdity of the accusation and the fallacy of the argument, for how could a non-Arab, no matter how skilled and versed in the knowledge of earlier scriptures, be able to compose a religious text of such utter beauty, perfection, and purity as to be considered by all literary experts as a unique masterpiece of Arabic prose unmatched to this day, without speaking a word, or very little, of the language itself. Moreover, if such a mentor did happen to exist, why on earth would the Arabs keep his identity a secret? Surely, the obvious would  have been  to confront Muhammad with him in order to discredit his mission and expose him as an imposter? The accusation becomes more ludicrous if we take a closer look at the Torah, the Gospel and the Qur'an, an exercise which would reveal serious and fundamental differences between them.

The Torah speaks of a 'personal  god' whom it presents in extremely derogatory and demeaning terms, for instance in the account God's alleged defeat in a wrestling contest with Israel, or Jacob's father, father of the Jews. Furthermore, on several occasions God is made to appear in human form, and invariably describe as 'ignoramus', 'reckless', and 'remorseful'! There is no room for comparison between the content of the Torah and those of the Qur'an. By what stretch of the imagination can the Torah be considered a source of inspiration or a reference for the Qur'an  which bases faith on absolute monotheism and the total and absolute perfection, uniqueness, and sovereignty of God? It describes God as:

The Beneficent One, Who is established on the Throne. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and whatsoever is between them, and whatsoever is beneath the sod. And if thou speakest aloud, then lo! He knoweth the secret (thought) and (that which is yet) more hidden. ( Ta Ha : 5-7)

The Qur'an says: " There is none in the heavens and the earth but cometh unto the Beneficent as a slave. (93) Verily He knoweth them and numbereth them with (right) numbering. (94) And each one of them will come unto Him on the Day of Resurrection, alone "(Maryam: 93-95).

Likewise , the Gospel also differs dramatically from the Qur'an in its conception of God. It says nothing even remotely resembling the above verse, and talks instead of "the Holy Spirit" [ a probable reference to Archangel Gabriel ] and of Jesus, the son of Mary, as " God the son" and "God the father." In other words, that all three, are, in essence, one, and that God is a trinity in which the father, the son, and the holy ghost are one and the same!!!

This is poles apart  from the Qur'anic conception and admits of no reconciliation between them for Allah says: "

Say: He is Allah, the One! (1) Allah, the eternally Besought of all! (2) He begetteth not nor was begotten. (3) And there is none comparable unto Him. (4)

In light of above, how can one possibly conclude that Prophet Muhammad borrowed from the Torah or the Gospel, especially bearing in mind the fact that nothing in these scriptures come close to the unique style, diction, and presentation  employed by the Qur'an? Its linguistic, literary, and stylistic merits. as well as its content and structure, are without parallel, either in the language in which it is preserved, Arabic, or in any other language known to man. The Qur'anic concept of God is rich with reverence and veneration. It inspires man to be fully aware and appreciative of His absolute power and control over the whole of creation.  God is Omnipotence, Omnipresent and Omniscient. The Qur'an invokes in the human mind immediate and spontaneous submission and obedience to God Almighty. Any attempts to undermine the origins and integrity of the Qur'anic text will always be proved groundless.

Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, Allah guideth them not and theirs will be a painful doom. (104) Only they invent falsehood who believe not Allah's revelations, and (only) they are the liars. (105) 

Although the Qur'an does not spare such liars, for their crimes is serious, it does  show clemency and compassion towards those who are misled or who succumb to temptation due to weakness or duress.

Whoso disbelieveth in Allah after his belief - save him who is forced thereto and whose heart is still content with the Faith - but whoso findeth ease in disbelief: On them is wrath from Allah. Theirs will be an awful doom. (106) That is because they have chosen the life of the world rather than the Hereafter, and because Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk. (107) 

As Muslims, we believe that the Qur'an shall continue, unrivalled and unchallenged, till the very end of time, to be the unparalleled phenomenon it has always been.

Excerpt from " A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an " 
Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 -1996 ]




Reflection and commentary by Imam Dr Yusuf Ziya Kavakci,

Surah Al Nahl [ Bees ] , 16..From Womb to Tomb

....From Womb to Tomb



Marriage is yet another of God's great gifts and is a mean for the preservation of the human race. But how deeply have people truly valued its sanctity and preserved it from the crippling and unnecessary traditions, rituals, and demands of human society?

And Allah hath given you wives of your own kind, and hath given you, from your wives, sons and grandsons, and hath made provision of good things for you. Is it then in vanity that they believe and in the grace of Allah that they disbelieve? (72)

One of the most intriguing features of human beings is their capacity to manufacture and believe in falsehoods. Instead of serving the One true God who has bestowed all manner of blessings upon them, they would rather turn their attention to the worship of concocted gods, both animate and inanimate:

And they worship beside Allah that which owneth no provision whatsoever for them from the heavens or the earth, nor have they (whom they worship) any power. (73) So coin not similitudes for Allah. Lo! Allah knoweth; ye know not. (74) 

Judgement is a certainty which every single human being will face. They have to stand alone before God and be witness to what they had done in this life, and for Allah this shall occur in the twinkling of an eye: " And unto Allah belongeth the Unseen of the heavens and the earth, and the matter of the Hour (of Doom) is but as a twinkling of the eye, or it is nearer still. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things "(77).

The surah continues in a similar vein: "And Allah brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers knowing nothing, and gave you hearing and sight and hearts that haply ye might give thanks "(78). The process of growth from babyhood to manhood is an amazing and fascinating one. Man's transformation from a small, vulnerable, and defenseless creature into a grown, mature, and independent adult is a magnificent manifestation of God's immense power and creativity.

From the secrets of the womb to the functions of the planet and the universe, God is fully aware and in control of everything. Nothing exists or happens on land, sea, or air without His knowledge, command, or power: "Have they not seen the birds obedient in mid-air? None holdeth them save Allah. Lo! herein, verily, are portents for a people who believe "(79). Unfortunately, familiarity has blunted our fascination with the mysteries of God's creation and dulled our senses to the signs of His existence everywhere.

And Allah hath given you in your houses an abode, and hath given you (also), of the hides of cattle, tent-houses which ye find light (to carry) on the day of migration and on the day of pitching camp; and of their wool and their fur and their hair, caparison and comfort for a while. (80) And Allah hath given you, of that which He hath created, shelter from the sun; and hath given you places of refuge in the mountains, and hath given you coats to ward off the heat from you, and coats (of armour) to save you from your own foolhardiness. Thus doth He perfect His favour unto you, in order that ye may surrender (unto Him). (81)

Reading ayat after ayat one is quickly and deeply led to understand and appreciate that the number of favors bestowed by God to mankind is as vast as the stars in the sky and that: "And if ye would count the favour of Allah ye cannot reckon it. Lo! Allah is indeed Forgiving, Merciful "(18).

At this point the surah turns to talk about the Qur'an itself but with reference to the Day of Judgement.

And (bethink you of) the day when We raise in every nation a witness against them of their own folk, and We bring thee (Muhammad) as a witness against these. And We reveal the Scripture unto thee as an exposition of all things, and a guidance and a mercy and good tidings for those who have surrendered (to Allah). (89)

The same scene is cited in An-Nisa' which says:

But how (will it be with them) when We bring of every people a witness, and We bring thee (O Muhammad) a witness against these? (41) On that day those who disbelieved and disobeyed the messenger will wish that they were level with the ground, and they can hide no fact from Allah. (42)

It is reliably reported that when this verse was revealed to the Prophet he was driven to tears, suddenly understanding the weight of the responsibility placed upon his shoulders. The revelation received by Prophet Muhammad contained within it the key to understanding everything in this world. He delivered it intact and with honesty, and raised a nation which would go on to create a civilization that would change the whole course of human history and lead humanity along the true path to God. Today, this same revelation lies abandoned and the Muslim people, once the creators of empires, now do no more than pay lip service to its message and as a result languish in a climate of backwardness, defeat, apathy, and humiliation. What can the possible reasons for such failure be? Are these Qur'an's instructions so difficult to implement that we fail to execute them ? The answer is an emphatic NO! Those who find such lofty principles difficult to live by have only themselves to blame for living in misery and suffering. For Allah says: "Lo! Allah enjoineth justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbiddeth lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorteth you in order that ye may take heed "(90).

Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1996 ]
" A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "



Reflection and commentary by Shaykh Dr Yusuf Ziya Kavakci,

Surah Al Nahl [ Bees ] , 16..On Bees and Life..

On Bees and life......


And thy Lord inspired the bee, saying: Choose thou habitations in the hills and in the trees and in that which they thatch; (68) Then eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of thy Lord, made smooth (for thee). There cometh forth from their bellies a drink divers of hues, wherein is healing for mankind. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for people who reflect. (69) 

Volumes have been written about the nutritional and medicinal values of honey. These tiny insects are able to extract nectar from flowers and plants everywhere. They group together in intricate and well ordered kingdoms or colonies to produce this unique and fascinating substance which has provided man with nutrition, remedy, and enjoyment throughout ages.

The surah goes on to cite a number of other favors of God to man spanning the length and breadth of his life: "And Allah createth you, then causeth you to die, and among you is he who is brought back to the most abject stage of life, so that he knoweth nothing after (having had) knowledge. Lo! Allah is Knower, Powerful "(70).

Life itself is a gift bestowed on man to enable him to fulfill his intended mission in this world. In return, man is obliged and expected to show gratitude and appreciation to God Almighty. God has allotted to people varying degree of prosperity and fortune in their lives as a means of testing them, both in time of prosperity and in times of adversity. Will the wealthy be able to conquer their greed and selfishness and look with mercy and compassion towards the deprived, and care for them ?

Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1996 ]
Excerpt from " A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "




Surah al Nahl , rendition by Mishary Rashid, translation by Wahidudin Khan :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zedzYkFoFQ